FSF Publishes Electronic Model for Estimating Costs of Ramp Damage

by Flight Safety Foundation | September 12, 2006

First e-Tool in GAP Program Targets Operators

Alexandria, VA, September 12, 2006 — The Flight Safety Foundation announced today the availabily of the initial product of its Ground Accident Prevention program, the on-line Cost Model. Located on the FSF website, the Cost Model provides an aircraft or airport operator the ability to estimate the cost of ground accidents in its operation.

Over the last three years, the Fight Safety Foundation has worked with a group of industry safety professionals to gather the data that enabled this Cost Model to be developed. The Cost Model can now provide operators with an estimate of their ground damage losses which includes both direct and indirect costs. According to Earl Weener, GAP co-chair, “This is the first time that anyone has been able to actually put a dollar figure on the indirect costs.” This Cost Model and future GAP products will assist operators in drastically cutting the cost of ground accidents in their operations.

“When we started the GAP project, we knew that the cost of ground accidents was staggering — both in the cost of the actual damage, and the cost of the injuries, as well as the tragic loss of life,” commented Bob Vandel, FSF Executive Vice President. “As we’ve collected this data, we found our initial estimates were well below what the data are showing. This Cost Model puts real numbers in front of the operators.”

The Cost Model allows operators to input their own data into several fields in the on-line form. Equations that are built into the code will translate that data into cost estimates. Those equations were developed using actual data collected from numerous operators around the world. Any data entered by the user remains on their personal computer, and is not collected or saved in any way, thus ensuring that proprietary data is kept safe.

Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents. www.flightsafety.org